EW! A Blog.

The documentary DamNation is now showing in Portland and we hope it makes it to Eugene soon. The film looks at dams and their impact on not only fish runs but entire ecosystems and cultures in America. Rogue River dams are featured. High production values in this film by Patagonia.

A protest is being planned on the UO campus Thursday in response to allegations of rape of a UO student by former Duck basketball players. The UO Coalition to End Sexual Violence has published a scathing open letter on its website and is calling for accountability by the UO administration and action.

This press release just came in from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding a Eugene event next Sunday:

Families interested in spending an enjoyable day outdoors with a fishing pole in their hands may want to put the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Family Fishing Event at Alton Baker Canoe Canal on their calendar for 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Sunday, May 4.

A feature of the ODFW Outdoors Program, this free event is designed to introduce kids and their families to fishing. To ensure that everybody has a good chance of catching a fish — or several of them — ODFW will release more than 2,000 hearty rainbow trout produced especially for this event by ODFW’s Leaburg hatchery. Most fish will be between 8-10 inches, with some fish reaching 14 inches or greater.

People are welcome to bring their own fishing equipment if they prefer. For those who do not have their own gear, ODFW will provide rods, reels, tackle and bait free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We want to make this as easy and enjoyable for folks as possible,” said Shannon Richardson, ODFW biologist coordinating the event. “If you have any interest in fishing and want to give it a try, this event is for you. We’ll get you geared up with the right stuff and show you what to do.”

Alton Baker Canoe Canal is located within Alton Baker Park, one of the most popular and multi-functional parks in Eugene. The park is located on the north bank of the Willamette River just east of the Ferry Street Bridge and Coburg Road. It is accessible by foot or bike from either side of the river via the River Bank Trails. Access by car is via the Club Road underpass off Coburg Road or from Autzen Stadium off MLK/Centennial.

ODFW’s free fishing event will take place about 250 yards upstream of the bridge over the canal at the park entrance.

The event is open to the public, and no pre-registration is required. Anglers 13 years old and younger do not need a fishing license. Anglers 14-17 years of age will need a juvenile fishing license, which can be purchased for $9 at any ODFW license agent, ODFW office or on-line at ODFW’s website. Everybody else must have an adult fishing license. Licenses will not be sold at the event so individuals planning to participate should obtain their licenses ahead of time.

Alton Baker Canoe Canal is one of more than 350 water bodies in Oregon that ODFW regularly stocks with trout. Persons interested in fishing can explore many other opportunities by perusing ODFW’s stocking schedules, maps, guides and other resources at ODFW’s website, located at www.dfw.state.or.us under the “Fishing” tab.

To talk to a biologist about the free fishing event or other fishing opportunities, seasons or regulations in the Eugene area, feel free to call ODFW’s Springfield office at 726-3515.

The voter registration deadline for the May 20 Primary Election is Tuesday, April 29. People who are not registered to vote in any Oregon county may register online at oregonvotes.gov no later than 11:59 pm April 29. The online option is available only to those with a valid Oregon driver’s license, DMV-issued identification card, or learner’s permit.

Other registration options are to submit a voter registration form to the Elections Office by 4 pm April 29, or mail a voter registration card to the Elections Office with a postmark no later than April 29.

New voters who will turn 18 on or before the May 20 Election Day may register by the April 29 deadline and receive a ballot, even if they are still 17 on the deadline date.

Lane County Elections is located at 275 W.10th Ave. in downtown Eugene. Public office hours are 9 am to noon, and 1 to 4 pm Monday through Friday. On Election Day the office will be open from 7 am to 8 pm.

Judge Michael McShane has denied the attempt by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) to delay arguments in the federal case against the ban on gay marriage in Oregon. McShane will hear arguments as scheduled at 1 pm Wednesday, April 23, at the U.S. Courthouse in Eugene.

McShane is not expected to rule on the legality of Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage until at least May 14. He will also consider NOM's motion to intervene in the case and will hear oral arguments on that issue May 14.

Meanwhile, vigils supporting marriage equality are being planned throughout Oregon. Eugene's will be from 5:30 to 6:30 this evening at the U.S. Courthouse. The vigil is likely to continue at the Courthouse tomorrow.

Fourth year dental student Julia Allen from Arizona University of Oral Medicine in Tempe Arizona was surprised to find her rental apartment burglarized over the weekend. “I opened the door and everything was taken out of the drawers and closets and thrown all over.” Allen works as a volunteer at White Bird Dental Clinic providing dental treatment to low income patients and had gone on a day trip to the Oregon Coast.

The apartment is provided by White Bird Dental for the students during their rotations of public health dental clinics. The program allows White Bird to see patients at a reduced cost and allows the students to explore a city for a possible future dental practice.

Clinic manager Kim Freuen says the biggest loss was Allen’s dental loupes. The loupes are headbands with magnifying lenses and lighting, custom fit to each person and cost $4,000. She will be taking the test for her dental license soon. Part of the test is proficiency of working on patients which will be difficult without the dental loops.

White Bird is asking the public to help find the dental loupes. If you have any information please call White Bird Dental at 344-8302.

Oregon’s Last Comedian Standing finals are tonight at Kowloon Restaurant & Lounge, 2222 MLK Blvd. near Autzen Stadium. Schmoozing begins at 7 with showtime at 8. Entry is $5 to $10 at the door. One hundred contestants from around the state are down to six tonight: Juan Knuston, Jake Woodmansee, Chris Green, Will Gibbions, Scoot Heering and Andy Schanz. Cash and prizes are valued at $10,000.